Agtech company Helios AI, based in Tysons, Virginia, has secured $4.7 million in seed funding to advance its AI-driven software aimed at predicting soft commodity prices and transforming the food supply chain. The funding round, led by Collide Capital, also saw participation from S&P Global Ventures, Stray Dog Capital, Angeles VC, Equity Alliance, and Supply Change Capital. The funds will be used to support Helios AI’s growth, including new hires and the launch of Helios Horizon, an AI-powered co-pilot for food supply chains.
Helios Horizon offers unique insights into food supply chains by integrating price forecasting and climate predictions for over 75 agricultural commodities and 2,500 price series, such as coffee, soybeans, and cocoa. Utilizing a multi-agent AI system, the platform analyzes billions of real-time global signals, boasting a forecasting accuracy five times higher than standard industry models.
The capital will also aid Helios AI’s expansion and enhance its commodities coverage. This move follows the company’s earlier release of advanced price forecasting models, positioning Helios Horizon as a decision-making tool for a diverse range of users, from farmers to retailers.
CEO Francisco Martin-Rayo likened the platform to having a team of Bloomberg analysts available 24/7, emphasizing its democratizing potential by providing Wall Street-grade tools to everyone from independent farmers to global retailers. Martin-Rayo highlighted the company’s mission to provide foresight in food supply chains, allowing stakeholders to anticipate crises rather than merely react to them.
Brian Hollins, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital, expressed excitement over Helios AI’s potential to democratize enterprise-grade insights for smaller food companies, suggesting that in a rapidly transforming market, such democratization is both disruptive and inevitable. This development underscores the increasing convergence of agtech and data analytics, where AI platforms can bolster supply chain resilience amid climate risks and commodity price fluctuations.
